Traffic: Delays of up to 90 minutes due to M1 closure near Rotherham

RUSH-HOUR motorists are being warned the M1 near Rotherham is still closed after a suspicious package was found this afternoon, causing delays of up to 90 minutes.

Police are urging road users advised to find alternative routes and allow extra time for their journeys following the police incident which has seen both sides of the motorway shut between junctions 36 and 37.

They said the package had been found on a footbridge at about 1pm and the road had been closed as a precaution — which was expected to be the case “for some time”.

National Highways said northbound traffic was being taken off the motorway at junction 36, and said drivers should follow the “solid square diversion” via the A61, A616, A629 and A628 to rejoin the M1 at junction 37.

Southbound traffic should follow the “hollow triangle diversion” and leave the M1 at junction at 37 and taking the A628, A629 and A616 to rejoin the M1 at junction 35a.

Trapped traffic on the northbound carriageway is in the process of being released, a spokesperson said.

Further updates are available from www.trafficengland.com or @HighwaysYorks on Twitter.